The fat lady, singing and dealing with adversity - D-backs 5, Red Sox 4

If you believe in such things as fate or destiny and the like, these are things that forge the way you approach life. Doing things right, and developing a thought or idea to it's fruition, are keys to forging destiny. Yesterday during warmups, I took the time to do a little individual batting practice with Thomas, Rachel and Jason. If time had allowed I would have worked with others as well. My intention was to try and get them into a more confident position with the bat.

Needless to say, it worked. Bigtime!

Yesterday we saw some things happen that challenged us as a team and as individuals. Our opponents, the Red Sox, going into the game, hadn't won a game all season. They did a great job in trying to change that yesterday. We could point the finger at a lot of different things, but the first inning wa a case of Murphy's Law gone wild on us. Whatever could go wrong... did. I was mildly surprised it was only 4-0 at the end of it all. Disappointed, yes, but not completely unexpected. What we take as simple, becomes a much more complex and menacing beast.

Tristan said to me during the inning, "They hit the ball really hard."  Yes, they did do that. Add to that a couple of botched plays, and, as I said, I was surprised it was only four nothing. To top it off, again we squandered our first inning, and if we had only one of our first three on base, Adam's home-run would have lifted our spirits. A better second inning defensively allowed us to get out unscathed, but you could almost sense it wasn't going to be our day, when Adam hit a double and then was caught running between 2nd and 3rd. 

Key the important point of our season. Destiny is being forged. With some resilient hitting, including a hit by Thomas, we managed to put up 3 runs to pull within 1 run at the end of 2. Wow. Still a lot of work to be done. I'm not afraid of losing. As I said in my previous blog, we'll never truly know how good we are until we lose a game. Losing 4 -3 would have been telltale, simply because we would have lost to a team that hadn't won yet. First losing to worst does many things, not least gives confidence to other teams that they can do the same thing. It also puts doubt in our own minds, whether or not we are as good as we really are.

Put those doubts to rest. We are a good team. The hitting display shown by the five batters at the bottom of the order, Rachel, Sherwin, Aidan, Jason and Taylor, found us with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the third. 

Key... Riley.

Riley wants a lot of things. Riley doesn't want to play outfield, Riley wants to play first base. Riley wants a lot of things. I get looks from other players. Adam hasn't got the connection with him, like he does with William, and at first base, Riley will need a lot more chances. If he's our future at first, he needs to, and will get the playing time, but he knows it will only be after we get the other teams 3 outs. He's paying his dues. A trooper. Yes he's a persistent little one, but I can not deny his hunger for the game.

I have others hungry as well. Tristan, Rachel, Aidan, Sherwin, and even Taylor from my juniors, all want opportunities to play infield, and they will get them too. That said it will be a test for each of them to make the most of their chances when they happen. 

Oh yes, back to Riley, back to the game, back to bases loaded 2 outs, bottom of the 3rd Red Sox 4, D-backs 3. Last chance saloon. Riley struck out his first at bat, got a hit the second time.... and the third. Score 2 runs and a win for the D-backs!!!

Queue the fat lady. Oh how I love the song she sings.